Combination lock

ABSTRACT

A COMBINATION LOCK IN WHICH THE LOCKING MEANS COMPRISING SEVERAL SLOTTED AND GROOVED DISCS COOPERATE WITH A LATCHING MEANS FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT IN THE GROOVES IN UNLATCHED POSITION, AND BEING GRIPPED BY THE DISCS ROTATABLE THROUGH NOTCHES IN THE LATCHING MEANS IN LOCKED POSITION, THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY BEING SLIDABLE AXIALLY UPON A SHAFT TO DISCONNECT IT FROM DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH AN OPERATING DIAL, THE DISCS RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF AN OPERATING DIAL THROUGH A CONTROL PIN ARE ALIGNABLE TO FREE THE LATCHING BAR BY MOVEMENT OF THE PIN, ALIGNING EACH IN FORWARD AND REVERSE MOVEMENT OF THE DIAL, THE SLIDABLE LOCKING MEANS BEING DISENGAGEABLE FROM THE OPERATING DIAL FOR MOVEMENT TO DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS.

Nov. 23, 1971 M. MANN 3,621,683

COMBINATION LOCK Filed Nov. '7. 1969 /1 Shoots-Sheet l A TTORNEY Nov. 23, 1971 M. MANN 3,621,683

COMBINATION LOCK Filed Nov. 7, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet I FIG. 3

p38 r6.2 1s l I im FIG. 4

/ Flash /N VENTOR MAX MAN/v ATZORNEY Nov. 23, 1971 M, MANN 3,621,683

COMBINATION LOCK Filed Nov. 7. 1969 /1 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 8a FIG. 8b FIG. 8c

MAX MANN v @WM NOV. 23, 1971 M MANN 3,621,683

COMBINATION LOCK Filed Nov. 7. 1969 4 Sheets-Shoot 4.

FIG. 9

FIG. l0

IN1/EN TOR MAX A/AN/V KW/ww( A TTORNEV United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 70--70 18 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A combination lock in which the locking means comprising several slotted and grooved discs cooperate with a latching means mounted for sliding movement in the groves in unlatched position, and being gripped by the discs rotatable through notches in the latching means in locked position, the entire assembly being slidable axially upon a shaft to disconnect it from driving engagement with an operating dial, the discs responsive to movement of an operating dial through a control pin are alignable to free the latching bar by movement of the pin, aligning each in forward and reverse movement of the dial, the slidable locking means being disengageable from the operating dial for movement to different combinations.

This invention relates to a combination lock having several improved features.

Outstanding is the ability to disengage the locking mechanism from the control dial for easy resetting of the combination to some other combination of numbered dial positions for release of the lock.

Another feature is the combination of several slotted discs, each independently journaled for free rotation upon a supporting shaft and carrying notches which, upon alignment, allow transverse sliding of a latching bolt.

Another feature is the rotatable mounting of an aligning pin cooperatively geared to the dial movement and positioned within the several sloted discs to align each for unlocking of a sliding bolt in alternate movement of the operating dial for release of the latching bar.

A further feature is the mounting of the slotted discs for free rotation of each, spring biased into a compact unit, each being insulated against frictional drag between the discs for completely independent movement of each slotted disc, whereby reliable movement of each disc is possible through the dial train without frictional effect upon the disc, one against the next.

A still further feature is the movement of aligning discs responsive to the operating dial free of all sounds such as clicking of tumblers or the like, whereby it is not possible by any sound emitted to determine the course of operation of the combination and when unlocking position is reached by the limiting numbers controlling the operation of the lock of any combination.

A final outstanding advantage of the present lock is that it is economically constructed and usefully applied either mounted on a door or may be modified for mounting upon a suitcase, briefcase, or the like. Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide a combination lock incorporating one or more of these several structural features.

Other objects will be inherent in the construction as shown in the figures of drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 shows the positioning of the lock for cooperation with a door;

FIG. 2 is a plan view in section through the lock and door taken on the line 2-2 of FIGS. 3a and 3b;

FIGS. 3a and 3b are a side view in section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end view in section taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a detail showing dial drive means, discs and supporting arms in modied form in perspective;

3,621,683 Patented Nov. 23, 1971 ice FIG. 6 is a detail illustrating the operation of the discs and aligning pin cooperative with the sliding bar;

FIG. 7 is a View similar to FIG. 2 which illustrates the sliding of the pin and disc assembly for resetting of the combination.

F IG. 8a illustrates the smaller slotted disc;

FIG. 8b illustrates an intermediate slotted sliding disc;

FIG. 8c illustrates the largest slotted disc of the set discs;

FIG. 9 shows the mounting of the present lock upon a suitcase; and

FIG. l0 shows enlarged detailed construction of the suitcase lock of FIG. 9.

As shown in FIGS. l and 2, the lock 10 enclosed in a housing 11 encased in dotted line construction may be mounted upon a door 12. A locking bar 18 is mounted in the housing ends to slide parallel to the door 12 into a slot 14 in the doorjamb 16 for locking of the door to the jamb by a sliding locking motion which is performed manually by gripping the knob 20 extending from a shaft bar 22 and passing through a hole 24 in and secured to the opposite end of the locking bar 18. The shaft bar 22 is adjusted and fastened by a sleeve 26, slidably mounted on the outer end of the shaft bar 22 and adjustably fixed thereon by a set screw 28. The knob 20 extends through a slot 30 in the door 12, sized to accommodate the longitudinal sliding movement of the locking bar 18 as it is moved manually from locked `to the unlocked dotted line position of FIG. 2 with respect to the slot 14 of the jamb 16.

The lock 10 is further fitted as described below with a control dial 32 which extends through the door through a slot 34 cut therein to expose numerical markings-1, 2, 3, etc.-even1y disposed on the periphery of the dial exposing these numbered positions thereof as it extends through the slot 34 in the door 12 as shown. The door may at a point midway of the dial further have a mark 36 representing a starting or zero position with respect to which the numbered positions on the periphery of the dial 32 are aligned when the dial is moved in operation of the combination. The dial 32 is fastened to a shaft 38 (shown in FIGS. 2, 3a, 3b and 4) which is journaled in a wall 15 of the lock housing 11 and which carries a beveled pinion gear 40 at its opposite end, freely and directly rotatable by rotation of the dial 32.

A cooperating shaft 42 is mounted at right angles to the shaft 38 and pinion gear 40, the shaft 42, extending from side to side through opposite housing walls 11 and is journaled at the left in a boss 45 in the housing wall. The shaft 42 meets and is rotatably supported within a larger tubular sleeve 44 slidable thereon, the sleeve 44 extending from about the middle of shaft 42. Both tubular sleeve 44 and shaft 42 are journaled for sliding support and rotation at the right hand wall boss 43 (FIGS. 2, 3a, 3b and 7). Fastened to the sleeve 44 both for rotation and lateral sliding movement therewith is a cooperative beveled angle gear 48. An annular support collar 50 is fastened to the left end of gear 48 for movement therewith. Sleeve 44, therefore, extends slidingly about shaft 42` between the right wall of housing 11 journaled for rotation in boss 43 and terminates beneath and is fastened at its inner ends to collar 50 and gear 48, for independent rotation therewith as in both rotatable as well as sliding lateral movement upon shaft 42. Shaft 42 extends from boss 45 at the left through the sleeve 44 and is supported by boss 43 within the surrounding sleeve 44 at the right. The shaft 42 does not rotate collar 50. Collar Si) has a positioning pin 52 extending from an inner face and is positioned to rotate on sleeve 44 radially about and orbiting the shaft 42.

Mounted upon the shaft 42 are three, freely and independently rotatable locking discs 54, 56 and 58. The discs are shown in detail; disc 54 in FIG. 8a, disc 56 in FIG. 8b, and disc 518 in FIG. 8c. It will be noted that each of the discs 54, 56 and 58 has a concentrically curved slot set inward from its periphery, the slot 60l of disc 54 extending for about one-third of its inner circumferential dimension as shown -in FIIG. 8a; a similar slot 62 in disc 56 which extends a little more than one-half of its circumferential dimension as shown in FIG. 8b; and a slot 64 in disc 58 which is cut substantially three-quarters of its circumferential dimension as shown in FIG. 8c. The extent of slots 60, 62 and 64 are dimensioned with respect to each other such that the rotary movement of pin 52 fastened with collar 50 upon shaft 44, rotated by gear 48, has large to small circumferential movement in the slots 64 to 62 and 60. Hence, in movement of the pin 52 in slot 64 for the positioning of disc S8, this will also cause both discs 54 and 56 to move simultaneously therewith since these have the shorter circumferential dimensioned slots 60 and 62. Consequently, in the disposition of the discs to effect alignment of a groove 66 in each disc with the corresponding groove 66 in the outer discs by movement of pin 52, the disc 58 is rst positioned for groove 66 alignment while also moving both 54 and 56 engaged in large movement of the positioning pin 52. Next, after rotating disc 58 to its desired position, the disc 56 will be positioned, also moving disc 54 because of its shorter slot therewith. Disc 58 with its longer slot 64 will not be displaced from its tirst position by shorter movement in opposite direction to displace disc 56 from its aligned position. Finally, disc 54 will be positioned by movement of the pin 512 and since it has the shortest slot 60, the movement of the disc 54 by Way of its shorter slot 60 will not disturb the aligned positions of either disc 56 or 58 which are protected by their larger slotted construction.

The grooves 66 cut in the peripheries of the discs 54, 56 and 58 are here shown as rectangular to receive and accommodate the rectangular bar 18 for axial sliding movement as shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 7. Hence, by rotation of the pin `52 forward and in reverse as in usual operation of a combination lock dial, each of the discs 54, 56 and 58 may have their slots 66 aligned, in which position the bar 18 will be unlocked and free to slide axially parallel to the sleeve 44 and shaft 42.

In order that the discs remain freely rotatable independently on shaft 42, so as not to be affected by the rotation of one upon the other, to overcome any frictional drag, the discs are each separated by a separating sleeve 68, each sleeve 68 positioned one on each opposite side of each disc. Each sleeve 68 is keyed to the substantially stationary shaft 42 to remain stationary therewith. However, each non-rotatable sleeve 68 is axially slidable in its keyway 46 on shaft 42 and each rotatable disc on shaft 42 is also axially slidable thereon. Moreover, the sleeve 44, gear 48 and collar and pin 50 and 5.2 are also axially slidable on shaft 42 as shown in FIG. 7. Consequently, the entire assembly, the tube or sleeve 44, the gear 48, the collar 50 and pin `52, each of discs 54, 56 and 58, and sleeves 68 slide axially upon shaft 42 as shown in FIG. 7. A compression spring 70I holds the assembly, the sleeves 68 and discs tightly compressed against the collar 50 and gear 48 for axial movement as a unit. In the normal spring 70 expanded position, the gear 48 meshes with beveled gear 40, the operating position of the lock.

It will be noted, however, that each sleeve 68 keyed to shaft 42, prevents any frictional drag between discs so that the pin 52 may rotate each disc independently of each other, the frictional drag being insulated by a sleeve 68. Moreover, the rotation of discs by movement of the pin 52 will give no clicking or operating sound to attend its rotation during positioning of any and all discs.

The sliding bar 18 has cross grooves 72 in the edge or sides which lie Within the groove 66 of the discs, these grooves being separated the same distance as separates the discs 54, 56 and 58, so that when the grooves 66 are rotated into any disaligned position, the sliding bar 18 becomes locked by being engaged by each disc riding within a groove 72 preventing axial or longitudinal movement of the sliding bar. When and only when grooves 66 are properly aligned by positioning of the discs 54, S6 and 58, does the bar 18 become free to slide by manual actuation of the knob 20 from the exterior of the lockable enclosure. That relationship of the grooves 72 in bar 18 and alignment of grooves 66 in the discs 54, 56 and 58 is best shown in FIG. 6. During this operation the bar functions as a dead bolt.

Since the entire assembly of pinion gear 48, the collar 50 and each disc and separating washers or sleeves are slidable upon shaft 42 against the compression of spring 70, they may be slid out of gear meshed position of the angle gears 40 and 48 by pushing upon the slightly extended sleeve 44, extending beyond the boss 43 as shown in FIG. 2, the sleeve being pushed against the spring 70 releasing the angle gears from meshed position, as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b.

In normal operation the gears 40 and 48 are meshed as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, so that the rotation of the dial 32 through its shaft 38 will rotate angle gear 40 which meshes with gear 48 in usual operation, and will rotate the collar 50 and pin 52 to allow setting of the positions of the discs 54, 56 and 58 between locked and unlocked positions, according to the combination, so that in undisturbed continuous operation the locking and unlocking will follow the set combination of numbers which will be supplied according to an individual setting with each lock. However, each lock can be reset to a different combination as desired by mechanically pushing the sleeve 44, gear =48 and assembly of washers a small distance axially inward upon shaft 42 against lthe pressure spring 70, sutcient to disengage gears 40 and 48. In that disengaged position any rotation of the dial 32 will allow a different combination of numbers to orient the grooves 66 to aligned position in movement of pin 52 and dial 32 for unlocking of the locking bar 18.

In that manner each lock may be provided with its own combination of numbers marked upon the lock with the sales slip or box in which it is packaged; and each lock may even have its combination changed by the owner as he may desire. As shown, the lock may be assembled through slots 34 and 30 upon a door 12; and, as shown in FIG. l, the bar 18 may be manually manipulated for locking and unlocking by manually moving the knob 20 slidably in the slot 30 to unbolt the door by movement of the bar 18 out of locking position in slot 14 of the doorjamb 16 according to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2.

The lock is usefully mounted on a suitcase such as shown in FIG. 9.

The detail of such mounting is set forth in FIG. l0. The upper dege 76 of the suitcase 78 has the lock 10 mounted thereover in a manner such that the knob 20 will protrude through a slot 30, and the combination operating dial 32 as described above will extend through the upper edge 76 of the case 78 through a slot 34 therein. The sliding bar 18 for this lock application is longitudinally extended with a right hand bar end -80 slidably extending through a retaining lug 82 mounted beneath the bar end edge surface 76. The left hand end of the sliding bar 18 is offset in a loop `84 so that its tip 88 will pass slidably in the same direction of bar movement as the tip 80 through a similar latching lug 86. Thus after opening the combination by proper rotation of the protruding edge of the control dial 32 and grasping the knob 20 for sliding to the right of the slot 30, the latching bar tips 80 and 88 retained in holes in lugs 82 and 86 for locking engagement thereof and by moving the knob 20 in the reverse direction according to arrows in the slot 30 both tips 80 and `88 will be freed of lugs 82 and 86 for unlocking. For this purpose the lug 86 will be supported by a lower half b of the suitcase or briefcase 78 and extend upward therefrom for engagement by the tip 88 on the end of the loop 84, while the opposite lug 82 will be supported in the upper half a of the suitcase or briefcase 78 so that when the bar 18 slidably disengages both lugs 82 and 86 the case may be opened.

There are inherent advantages in this construction. The sleeve 44 extends outward of the housing 11 thereby forming a push button whereby the entire locking assembly may be caused to slide axially within the supporting bosses 43 and 45. By that motion the dial 32 is free to rotate for Setting of the new combination, a primary function. However, in locked position of the sliding bar, the movement of the entire locking assembly also moves the sliding bar to unlocked position of the bar with respect to its bolted position 14 in the doorjamb 16 of FIG. 2, whereby mere depression of the sliding sleeve 44 will serve to unlock the door `without necessarily changing the combination. During this operation the spring 70 is compressed and serves to return the entire locking assembly and bar to the locked position as shown in FIG. 2. The bar thus functions as a latch, i.e. spring biased, bolt when operated in this manner from inside the lockable enclosure.

Again, while the entire assembly of discs and sleeves together with the bar 18 will move with the axial sliding movement of the sleeve 44 against the pressure of the spring 70, the bar 18 itself is not operative to move the locking assembly axially because the discs themselves bind upon the shaft 42 and will not be moved by movement of the locking bar 18. This binding is caused by the tendency of the discs to tilt due to the force of spring 70 adjacent their central portions and an oppositely directed force applied through the bar adjacent their peripheries, resulting in an edge portion of each central opening therethrough tending to dig into fixed shaft 42. While the spring 70 biases the total assembly whereby the angle gear 48 is in resilient mesh with the gear 40, a stop 92 is also mounted upon sliding bar 18 to limit the spring biased movement of the bar 18 to the right, avoiding excessive spring biased pressure between the gears. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, while only three discs are used, five grooves 72 are shown to be cut in the sliding bar 18. Obviously it is possible to use more discs which increases the complexity of the combination along the same principles as described. However, this also allows for resetting of the bar to a position more extended using another set of grooves 72. In that instance, of course, the position of the stop 92 and the size and/or position of gear 48 would need correspondingly to be changed.

Other modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. For instance, the numbers on the dial may be mounted upon a side face or the edge, whichever is convenient and the dial itself may be extended from any side or even an end of the housing case 11 for optimum use of the presently-described lock. Moreover, other bar moving mechanical means than the knob 20 for axially moving the locking bar when the combination frees it for movement may be substituted for that shown. While the latching bar 18 moves linearly it could be modied to arcuate form for latching by an arcuate movement with, however, some sacrifice of simplicity.

Finally, while the discs were described as arranged as a series of arcuate slots progressively enlarged in size, the discs do not need to be arranged in the order of their progressively enlarged slot size sequence. Thus, while the smallest slotted disc can be first, the largest slot second and the intermediate size last in the series, equally possible is an arrangement wherein the smallest groove is the middle disc. Moreover, there can be four or five discs instead of three as shown. The adjusting and positioning finger 52 extends through all of the slots and by turning of the dial the largest is usually positioned first and the smallest slot last, this positioning effect resulting whatever position the discs occupy, relative to each other.

While it is suggested that the lock is useful for doors and handbags, other locking applications involving the secure locking and unlocking of a sliding bolt will be apparent for application of this construction to one skilled assembly of locking means operative alternately to lock and free said latching means for latching and uulatching movement, means for actuating movement of said locking means for positioning said locking means to positions of locked engagement of said latching means and unlocked engagement therewith when said locking means is positioned according to a series of exposed numbered positions of movement of said actuating means, said assembly of locking means being movable axially into and out of engagement with said actuating means even when in locked engagement with said latching means While simultaneously providing latching and unlatching movement of said latching means whereby a change in the position of said actuating means with respect to said locking means when moved out of engagement therewith will allow actuating of said locking means by a changed combination of exposed numbered positions of said actuating means.

2. The combination lock as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises locking elements rotatable into and out of locking engagement with said latching means, a rotationally mounted dial having numbered positions exposed on its surface for positioning thereof, said dial and locking means being drivingly interconnected to rotate the locking elements of said locking means from locked to unlocked positions according to numbered positions on said dial, said locking means being axially slidable into and out of engagement with said dial, whereby upon sliding movement of said locking means said driving connection with said dial actuating means is interrupted.

3. The combination lock as defined in claim 2 wherein said dial actuating means and locking means are drivingly interconnected by a pair of angle gears meshing with each other and said dial is rotationally mounted for operation of said locking means at right angles to said sliding movement of said locking means.

4. The combination lock as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking means is mounted upon a shaft slidably to move axially thereof, said sliding locking means and actuating means being drivingly interconnected by gears meshing with each other, and a spring mounted on said shaft biasing said locking means and gears into meshed position, and means for pressing said locking means slidingly against compression of said spring for disengaging said locking means from driving engagement with said dial.

5. The combination lock as defined in claim 4 wherein said operating dial is rotatably mounted for operation of said locking means at right angles to said sliding movement of said locking means, said gears interconnecting said locking and dial actuating means being angle gears meshing with each other for driving engagement of said dial and locking means, said spring biasing said locking means in sliding movement into and manually depressible out of engagement of said gears.

6. The combination lock as defined in claim 1 including a housing substantially enclosing said locking means, a shaft extending from side to side of said housing slidably supporting said locking means, a slidable sleeve on said shaft extending outward of said housing and having its inner end bearing against said locking means, said latching means comprising a sliding bar extending through said housing from side to side and slidably supported by housing sides, said locking means engaging said latching bar in locked position, a stop on said latching bar positioned to engage said housing in stop-latched position, a spring on said shaft biasing said locking means slidably into engagement with said actuating means while also biasing both said locking means and latching bar against said stop in locked position.

7. The combination lock as defined in claim 1 including a housing substantially enclosing said assembly locking means, locking elements rotatable into and out of locking engagement with said latching means, a rotationally mounted dial having numbered positions exposed on its surface for positioning thereof, said dial and locking means being interconnected by gears to rotate the locking elements of said locking means from locked to unlocked positions according to numbered positions on said dial, said locking means being axially slidable to engage and disengage said gears with said dial, whereby upon sliding movement of said locking means said driving connection with said dial actuating means is interrupted, said housing including means for securing the same to a surface of a door panel or the like to be latched, said latching means extending from said housing in a manner to secure said panel in locked position at its edge by being engaged by a latch securing means, said dial being mounted extending from said housing and through a cut-away portion of said panel whereby to expose the numbered positions of said dial through said panel when the lock is mounted to said panel for manual rotation of said dial, and means extending through a second cut-away portion of said panel for manually moving said latching means into and out of l-atch securing engagement when the latch is in unlocked position.

8. The combination lock as defined in claim 1 wherein said latching means is a substantially elongated bolt longitudinally slidable with respect to the locking means in unlocked position adapted for engagement with a bolt securing means at each end.

9. The combination lock as defined in claim 8 wherein the locking means is mounted upon a portable container for locking and unlocking engagement of sections of said container hinged together by sliding engagement of said elongated bolt with bolt securing means mounted in each hinged portion of said portable container.

10. The combination lock as defined in claim 8 wherein the elongated bolt is looped at one end for engagement with bolt securing means at each end upon sliding movement of said bolt in one direction.

11. The combination lock as defined in claim 10 wherein the locking means is mounted upon a portable container for locking and unlocking engagement of said ylatching means.

I2. A 'combination lock having a slidably mounted locking bar, a housing, a shaft having a plurality of locking discs freely rotatable thereon, relatively nonrotatable spacer sleeves mounted between said discs, a locking groove cut in the periphery of each disc whereby the discs may be aligned with respect to all locking grooves to slidably receive said locking bar, said locking bar having a series of corresponding grooves cut through a radial portion thereof, said bar :cut grooves being spaced equidistant to said discs along the length of said bar, whereby the discs may rotate in said bar grooves into and out of llocking position to lock said bar against sliding movement when the discs are unaligned with respect to the groove in the periphery of each, means for rotating each disc for alignment of peripheral locking grooves whereby said bar may be freed for sliding movement, said disc rotating means including an elongated sleeve slidable on said shaft and carrying an angle gear at one end and extending outside of said housing at the other end, said discs and spacer sleeves mounted on said shaft being resiliently biased axially against the gear carrying end of said elongated sleeve, and a rotatable dial having exposed numbered positions mounted upon a rotatable shaft, said dial mounted shaft carrying a second angle gear drivingly meshing with said rst angle gear, whereby said assembly of sleeves, discs and first angle gear are resiliently slidable into mesh with the angle gear of said dial.

13. The combination lock as dened in claim 12 wherein said discs each have equal radii arcuate slots cut through each disc surface substantially opposite to said peripheral grooves, said slots being dimentioned progressively in longer arcs from one discs to the next through the series of discs, and an aligning pin mounted parallel to said shaft for orbital rotation by the rst angle gear about said shaft and extending longitudinally through all of the slots of said discs, said pin upon obrital rotation forward and in reverse -being adapted independently to move each disc in sequence through its correspondingly sized slot for aligning all of the discs into alignment of their peripheral grooves, thereby to unlock said locking bar for sliding movement with respect to said discs.

14. The device as defined in claim 12 wherein said nonrotatable sleeevs are keyed to said shaft `and are slidable yaxially thereon.

15. A combination lock comprising a housing, a shaft supported in the walls of said housing having a plurality of locking discs freely rotatable thereon, a locking groove cut in the periphery of each disc, a slidably mounted locking bar extending through said housing sides -and lying within the aligned grooves of said discs, grooves cut into said locking bar spaced from each other to correspond to the spacing between said discs whereby each disc may rotate on said shaft in a locking bar groove, locking said bar against sliding movement when a disc is unaligned with respect to the groove in its periphery, a stop on said locking bar in extended locked position bearing against said housing, each disc having an equal radius arcuate slot cut through its disc surface opposite to said locking groove, said slots being sized progressively in arcuate length from one disc to the next of the several discs, stationary spacer sleeves between discs inhibiting frictional drag by movement of one disc upon the next, an axially sliding sleeve mounted about said shaft extending frorn a .central point of said shaft through one of said housing walls, means biasing said discs and spacer sleeves against the inner end of said axailly sliding sleeve and said locking bar against said stop, an aligning pin fastened and supported for orbital rotation about said shaft upon the inner end of said sliding sleeve, an angle gear upon said sleeve connected to rotate said aligning pin and sleeve, said aligning pin extending through the arcuate slots in each of said discs and a dial having exposed numbered positions rotatably mounted through a housing and having a second angle gear in mesh with the :first angle gear.

16. The combination lock as dened in claim 15 wherein the bolt is looped at one end for bolting engagement with bolt securing means at each end upon sliding movement of said bar in one direction, said lock being mounted for bolting together sections of a portable container having portions hinged together and carrying bolt securing means in each portion, said lock in mounted position having an edge of said dial exposed through a surface of said portable container for manual rotation thereof, and means extending through the surface of said container for manually sliding the bolt in unlocked position into and out of engagement with said bolt securing means.

17. A combination lock, a combination locking means, a slidably mounted locking bar, said bar having a series of grooves cut through a radial portion thereof to receive at least one movable element of a combination locking means, locking said bar against sliding movement in locked position, a housing enclosing said combination locking means, dial means rotatably actuating said combination locking means into locked Aand unlocked engagement of said locking bar according to exposed numbered positions on said dial means, a shaft slidably supporting said combination of locking means in said housing, resilient means biasing said slidable combination locking means into driving engagement with said dial actuating means, a sleeve slida-ble on said shaft and bearing against said combination locking means at its inner end and extending outward of said housing -at its outer end forming a resiliently depressible push button, whereby upon depressing said button end of said sleeve to slide inward of said housing against said combination locking means, said combination locking means is disengaged from said dial actuating means and the combination of said locking means may be reset with respect to said dial actuating means while simultaneously sliding said locking bar in assunse locked engagement with said combination locking means.

1S. A combination lock comprising a housing adapted for mounting upon a closure, a projectible and retractible locking bolt supported by said housing, actuating means connected to said bolt for operation from one side of the closure, a shaft lfixedly supported within said housing, ia series of tumblers pivotally supported on said shaft, means cooperating between said locking bolt and said tumblers preventing movement of said locking bolt by said actuating means except when said tumblers are each in a particular, predetermined, pivot position, a sleeve coaxial with and slidably mounted on said shaft with one end engaging the series of tumblers and the other end extending exteriorly of said housing and forming a manually depressible push buttom accessible from the other side of the closure, spring means biasing said series of tumblers along their pivot axis toward said sleeve, and tumbler operating means including an indicia bearing portion eX- posed exteriorly of the housing for control from one side of the closure and including a coupling disengageable by depressing said push button so as to shift said sleeve and series of tumblers against the bias of said spring means, whereby the indicia bearing portion of the tumbler operating means may be shifted in its relation to said particular, predetermined, pivot position of said tumblers.

References Cited ALBERT G. CRAIG, JR., Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

